Increased state requirements for county health departments to enforce the ban on tobacco sales to minors have resulted in fines after compliance checks made last year.

The Cattaraugus County Board of Health has approved nearly 20 fines after hearing reports from Health Department inspectors.

Changes in the law increased the minimum fine from $100 to $300 for first offenses. Second-time violations can result in fines of from $500 to $1,500 and bring a six-month suspension of cigarette and lottery sales. A third-time offender can be fined up to $1,500, lose its cigarette license for a year and its lottery permit permanently.

Stores paying $300 fines are: Park & Shop stores at two locations in Olean and one in Portville; Kwik Fill in Portville; Gordon's Deli & Grocery in Olean; Uni-Mart in Olean; the St. Bonaventure University Book Store; Farmersville Station Deli; Kwik Fill in Franklinville; Sandusky One Stop in Freedom; Uni-Mart in Freedom; King's Market in Great Valley; Kwik Fill in Ellicottville; Crosby's Dairy Land in Little Valley; Rite Aid in Yorkshire; Eckerd Drugs in Yorkshire; Weber City Deli in Yorkshire; and Hollow General Store in Ashford.

The board also levied other fines for sanitary code violations:

Laura Mitchener of Sunny's Country Kitchen in Ashford was fined $200 for not attending a hearing and for repeat violations for failing to complete daily records on the operation of a public water supply at her business.

William Burg of Farmersville was fined $100 for allowing untreated sewage to discharge on the ground at property on Hardy Corners Road.

Patrick Sheedy of Krog Corp. in Ashford was fined $400 for failing to submit records on the operation of a public water supply for September and October.

Kathy Maddox of Little Valley was fined $100 for allowing the discharge of inadequately treated sewage in July.